Gaming method and gaming machine accepting side bet

ABSTRACT

A playing method of a card game according to the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) placing a side BET different from a normal BET; (b) executing a basic game following a basic rule in which winning or losing of the game is determined based on strength of hands or on height of a total of points allocated to respective cards; and (c) executing a special game following a special rule which is different from the basic rule in strength of hands or in points allocated to the respective cards, when it is determined that the basic game results in a tie or losing of a player and that the side BET is placed in the step (a).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/902,095 filed on Feb. 20, 2007. The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a gaming method and a gaming machine accepting side BETs.

2. Discussion of the Background

Conventionally, there have been gaming machines capable of accepting side BETs different from normal BETs. For example, in blackjack, when an upcard is an “A” card out of dealer's two cards, a player can place a side BET called insurance, in addition to a normal BET. In a case of placing insurance, the player adds the wager by half of an initial wager. When the dealer's hand is “Natural 21”, the amount twice the value of the side BET (insurance) is paid out. Further, for example, in Caribbean stud poker, a side BET is cumulatively accumulated as a progressive jackpot. When a player places a side BET in addition to an ante (a normal BET), he or she can acquire a part of or the entire progressive jackpot, according to the established hand. A game capable of accepting side BETs of this kind is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,801, U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,525 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,786.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming method and a gaming machine capable of accepting side BETs, thus exhibiting new entertainment.

The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,801, U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,525 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,786 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a playing method of a card game having the following structure.

Namely, the above-mentioned playing method of a card game comprises the steps of: (a) placing a side BET different from a normal BET; (b) executing a basic game following a basic rule in which winning or losing of the game is determined based on strength of hands or on height of a total of points allocated to respective cards; and (c) executing a special game following a special rule which is different from the basic rule in strength of hands or in points allocated to the respective cards, when it is determined that the basic game results in a tie or losing of a player and that the side BET is placed in the step (a).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a playing method of a card game having the following structure.

Namely, the above-mentioned playing method of a card game comprises the steps of: (a) placing a normal BET; (b) placing a side BET different from the normal BET; (c) executing a basic game following a basic rule in which winning or losing of the game is determined based on strength of hands or on height of a total of points allocated to respective cards; (d) offering a payout based on the normal BET and a result of the basic game, when it is determined that the basic game results in winning of a player; (e) executing a special game following a special rule which is different from the basic rule in strength of hands or in points allocated to the respective cards, when it is determined that the basic game results in a tie or losing of the player and that the side BET is placed in the step (b); and (f) offering a payout based on the side BET and a result of the special game, when it is determined that the special game results in winning of the player.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a playing method of a card game having the following structure.

Namely, the above-mentioned playing method of a card game comprises the steps of: (a) placing a normal BET; (b) placing a side BET different from the normal BET; (c) cumulatively accumulating as a jackpot a predetermined ratio of a side-BET currency value; (d) executing a basic game following a basic rule in which winning or losing of the game is determined based on strength of hands or on height of a total of points allocated to respective cards; (e) offering a payout based on the normal BET and a result of the basic game, when it is determined that the basic game results in winning of a player; (f) executing a special game following a special rule which is different from the basic rule in strength of hands or in points allocated to the respective cards, when it is determined that the basic game results in a tie or losing of the player and that the side BET is placed in the step (b); and (g) offering a jackpot based on the side BET and a result of the special game, when it is determined that the special game results in winning of the player.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine having the following structure.

Namely, the above-mentioned gaming machine comprises: a side BET switch for inputting a side BET which is different from a normal BET; and a controller. The controller is programmed so as to execute the following processing of: (a) accepting the side BET from the side BET switch; (b) executing a basic game following a basic rule in which winning or losing of the game is determined based on strength of hands or on height of a total of points allocated to respective cards; and (c) executing a special game following a special rule which is different from the basic rule in strength of hands or in points allocated to the respective cards, when it is determined that the basic game results in a tie or losing of a player and that the side BET is placed in the processing (a).

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine having the following structure.

Namely, the above-mentioned gaming machine comprises: a normal BET switch for inputting a normal BET; a side BET switch for inputting a side BET which is different from the normal BET; and a controller. The controller is programmed so as to execute the following processing of: (a) accepting the normal BET from the normal BET switch; (b) accepting the side BET from the side BET switch; (c) executing a basic game following a basic rule in which winning or losing of the game is determined based on strength of hands or on height of a total of points allocated to respective cards; (d) offering a payout based on the inputted normal BET and a result of the basic game, when it is determined that the basic game results in winning of a player; (e) executing a special game following a special rule which is different from the basic rule in strength of hands or in points allocated to the respective cards, when it is determined that the basic game results in a tie or losing of the player and that the side BET is placed in the processing (b); and (f) offering a payout based on the inputted side BET and a result of the special game, when it is determined that the special game results in winning of the player.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine having the following structure.

Namely, the above-mentioned gaming machine comprises: a normal BET switch for inputting a normal BET; a side BET switch for inputting a side BET which is different from the normal BET; and a controller. The controller is programmed so as to execute the following processing: (a) accepting the normal BET from the normal BET switch; (b) accepting the side BET from the side BET switch; (c) cumulatively accumulating as a jackpot a predetermined ratio of a side-BET currency value; (d) executing a basic game following a basic rule in which winning or losing of the game is determined based on strength of hands or on height of a total of points allocated to respective cards; (e) offering a payout based on the inputted normal BET and a result of the basic game, when it is determined that the basic game results in winning of a player; (f) executing a special game following a special rule which is different from the basic rule in strength of hands or in points allocated to the respective cards, when it is determined that the basic game results in a tie or losing of the player and that the side BET is placed in the processing (b); and (g) offering a jackpot based on the inputted side BET and a result of the special game, when it is determined that the special game results in winning of the player.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a flow chart illustrating main-control-portion-side processing conducted in a main control portion included in a gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is another flow chart illustrating main-control-portion-side processing conducted in the main control portion included in the gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating exemplary hand-ranking tables.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external structure of a gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external structure of a station included in the gaming machine illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an exemplary image which is displayed to a front display included in a gaming machine.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an exemplary image which is displayed to a liquid crystal display included in a station.

FIG. 7 is another view illustrating an exemplary image which is displayed to a liquid crystal display included in a station.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the internal structure of the gaming machine illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the internal structure of a station included in the gaming machine illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 10A is a flow chart illustrating a subroutine of station-side processing conducted in a station.

FIG. 10B is another flow chart illustrating a subroutine of station-side processing conducted in the station.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

There will be described an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

In the present invention, a game (basic game) following a basic rule is executed, and when the basic game results in a tie or losing of a player, a game (special game) following a special rule is executed on condition that a side BET is placed. The special rule is applied to a game where a hand is made in the same manner as in the basic game and winning or losing is determined on a basis (e.g. strengths of hands, points allocated to respective cards, and strengths of suits) which is different from a basis in the basic game.

In the following embodiment, there will be described a case where Pai-Gow poker is played. First, the rule of Pai-Gow poker will be described.

In Pai-Gow poker, a banker, and a single player or a plurality of players play a game against each other, using a single set of playing cards (53 cards) including a single joker.

At first, 7 cards are dealt to each of the banker and the players. The banker and the players divide their dealt seven cards into a set of five cards and a set of two cards. At this time, the hand of five cards (a high hand) must be as strong as the hand of two cards (a low hand) or stronger than the hand of two cards. Next, by comparing the banker's hand of five cards with the player's hand of five cards, which of them is stronger than the other is determined. Similarly, by comparing the banker's hand of two cards and the player's hand of two cards, which of them is stronger than the other is determined. When both the banker's hands of five cards and two cards are stronger than those of the player's, the game results in winning of the banker. When both the player's hands of five cards and two cards are stronger than those of the banker's, the game results in winning of the player. When one player's hand, out of the hands of five cards and two cards, is stronger than the banker's corresponding hand and the other banker's hands is stronger than the player's corresponding hand, the game is tied. Also, when both the player's hands of five cards and two cards are as strong as the banker's hands, the game results in winning of the banker. Further, as hands of five cards, there are Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two pair, One pair and No Pair, in the order of strength. As hands of two cards, there are One Pair and No Pair, in the order of strength.

The above-mentioned rule corresponds to the basic rule in the present invention, and Pai-Gow poker, which is executed following the basic rule, corresponds to the basic game in the present invention.

In the following embodiments, Pai-Gow poker is played, wherein, a normal BET and a side BET are accepted. Here, a normal BET is a BET placed on the winning or losing of a basic game, while a side BET is a BET placed on a game which is executed when the basic game results in a tie or losing of the player. A predetermined ratio (50% in the present embodiment) of a side-BET currency value is cumulatively accumulated as a jackpot (hereinafter also referred to as “JP”). When the basic game results in a tie or losing of the player, on condition that the side BET is placed, the hand strength ranking in the basic game is changed. Subsequently, the player's cards and the banker's cards are again respectively divided into a set of five cards and a set of two cards, and their hands are then compared to determine winning or losing of the game based on the newly set hand strength ranking. When the player wins the game, a JP is offered. The rule with a hand strength ranking which has been changed from that of the basic rule corresponds to the special rule in the present invention. Further, a game (a game played following the special rule) which is played on condition that a side BET is placed when the basic game results in a tie or losing of the player corresponds to the special game in the present invention. It is to be noted that a case where a dealer serves as the banker will be described in the following embodiment.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are flow charts illustrating main-control-portion-side processing conducted in a main control portion included in a gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

First, there will be described processing conducted in the main control portion 40 (see FIG. 8) included in the gaming machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, in step S101, the CPU 41 included in the main control portion 40 receives BET information from any of the stations 3 (see FIG. 3). The BET information relates to BETs and includes information about whether or not a normal BET and a side BET are placed and the values of the normal BET and the side BET.

Next, in step S102, the CPU 41 cumulatively stores 50% of a side-BET credit as a JP in a RAM 42 (see FIG. 8) based on BET information received in step S101.

Next, in step S103, the CPU 41 determines seven cards to be dealt to each of the player and the banker, out of a single deck of playing cards, using random numbers. Further, to a front display 21 (see FIG. 3) included in the gaming machine 1, card images indicative of the seven cards determined to be dealt to the banker are displayed facing down.

Next, in step S104, the CPU 41 transmits to-be-dealt cards information to the station 3. The to-be-dealt cards information includes information indicative of the types of the cards determined to be dealt to the player and the banker (ranks and suits [heart, club, spade, diamond]). The station 3 displays card images indicative of the seven player's cards to a liquid crystal display 10 (see FIG. 4), based on the received to-be-dealt cards information, and accepts an input for dividing the cards into a set of five cards (a high hand) and a set of two cards (a low hand).

Next, in step S105, the CPU 41 receives selection information from the station 3. The selection information is information indicating which cards are selected as the high hand and which cards are selected as the low hand.

Next, in step S106, the CPU 41 conducts processing for dividing the cards dealt to the banker into a high hand and a low hand.

Next, in step S107, the CPU 41 displays card images indicative of the high hand and the low hand determined in step S106 with their faces up, to the front display 21.

Next, in step S108, the CPU 41 conducts processing for determining winning or losing of the game, based on the selection information received in step S105 and the high hand and the low hand determined in step S106. In the processing of step S108, the CPU 41 determines winning or losing of the game based on the results of determination, in which the CPU 41 determines which hand is the stronger of the two by comparing the player's high hand with the banker's high hand following the basic rule, and by comparing the player's low hand with the banker'slow hand following the basic rule. More specifically, when the player's high hand is stronger than the banker's high hand and the player's low hand is stronger than the banker's low hand, the player wins, and when the banker's high hand is stronger than the player's high hand and the banker's low hand is stronger than the player's low hand, the banker wins. When one player's hand, out of the high hand and the low hand, is stronger than the banker's corresponding hand and the other banker's hand is stronger than the player's corresponding hand, the game is tied.

Next, in step S109, the CPU 41 transmits information indicative of the winning or losing of the game determined in step S108 (hereinafter, also referred to as winning/losing information) to the station 3. The station 3, on receiving the winning/losing information, displays a single image describing any one of “you win”, “you lose” and “tie” to the liquid crystal display 10, based on the winning/losing information.

Next, in step S110, the CPU 41 transmits normal BET payout information to the station 3. The normal BET payout information is information indicative of the value of a credit (currency value) to be paid out for a normal BET. More specifically, when the player wins, the CPU 41 transmits information indicative of a credit value which is twice the value of the normal BET, and in the event of a tie, the CPU 41 transmits information indicative of the same credit value as the value of the normal BET. Also, when the banker wins, the CPU 41 transmits information indicating that the value of a credit to be offered is 0.

Next, in step S111 in FIG. 1B, the CPU 41 determines whether or not a signal indicative of the Pai-Gow poker game (basic game) resulting in a tie or losing of the player and a side BETs being placed (hereinafter, also referred to as a side BET signal) is received from the station 3. When the CPU 41 determines that no side BET signal is received, the present main-control-portion-side processing ends.

On the other hand, when determining that the side BET signal is received, the CPU 41 executes hand-ranking table determination processing in step S112. A hand-ranking table (see FIG. 2) is a table showing the corresponding relation between a hand and strength of the hand, and is referred to by the CPU 41 when comparing a hand of the player's cards with a hand of the banker's cards to determine which hand is the stronger of the two. The gaming machine 1 stores a plurality of hand-ranking tables in a ROM 43 (see FIG. 8), and a hand-ranking table corresponding to the basic rule is set at the time of executing the basic game. In the processing of step S112, out of the plurality of hand-ranking tables, a single hand-ranking table which is different from the hand-ranking table corresponding to the basic rule is determined as a reference target by using random numbers.

It is to be noted that the hand-ranking table is described later in details using FIG. 2.

Next, in step S113, the CPU 41 transmits information indicative of ranking of hands (hereinafter also referred to as hand-ranking information) determined in step S112, to the station 3 from which the side BET signal has been transmitted.

In the station 3, an image of ranking of hands based upon the received hand-ranking information is displayed to the liquid crystal display 10 (see FIG. 7).

Next, in step S114, the CPU 41 receives selection information from the station 3 after the re-division of the cards.

Next, in step S115, the CPU 41 restores the cards divided into the high hand and the low hand to a set of seven cards. Subsequently, the CPU 41 executes the processing for re-determining a high hand and a low hand. Thereafter, card images indicative of the re-divided cards of high hand and low hand are displayed facing down to the front display 21.

Next, in step S116, the CPU 41 displays the card images indicative of banker's cards of the high hand and the low hand, which have been determined in step S115, with their faces up to the front display 21.

Next, in step S117, the CPU 41 conducts processing for determining winning or losing of the game, based on the selection information received in step S114 and the banker's high hand and low hand determined in step S115. In the processing of step S117, the player's high hand is compared with the banker's high hand to determine which hand is the stronger of the two referring to the hand-ranking table determined in step S112 (following the special rule), and the player's low hand is compared with the banker's low hand to determine which hand is the stronger of the two. Based on the determination results, winning or losing is determined. More specifically, when the player's high hand is stronger than the banker's high hand and the player's low hand is stronger than the banker's low hand, the player wins, and when the banker's high hand is stronger than the player's high hand and the banker's low hand is stronger than the player's low hand, the banker wins. When one player's hand, out of the high hand and the low hand, is stronger than the banker's corresponding hand and the other banker's hand is stronger than the player's corresponding hand, the game is tied.

Next, in step S118, the CPU 41 transmits information indicative of the winning or losing of the game determined in step S117 (hereinafter, also referred to as winning/losing information) to the station 3, and sets the hand-raking table to the one corresponding to the basic rule.

The station 3, on receiving the winning/losing information, displays an image describing any one of “you win”, “you lose” and “tie” to the liquid crystal display 10, based on the winning/losing information.

Next, in step S119, the CPU 41 transmits JP payout information to the station 3. The JP payout information is information indicative of the value of a JP credit (the currency value) to be paid out for the side BET. More specifically, the CPU 41 transmits information indicative of a credit value corresponding to a full amount of a JP in the case of the player's win with the hand ranked top in the special game, information indicative of the credit value corresponding to 50% of the JP in the case of the player's win with the hand ranked second in the special game, and information indicative of the credit value corresponding to 10% of the JP in the case of the player's win with a hand other than the above-mentioned hands. Further, the CPU 41 transmits information indicative of the same credit value as the value of the side BET in the event of a tie. Also, when the banker wins, the CPU 41 transmits information indicating that the value of credits to be offered is 0.

In the present embodiment, there has been described a case where a full amount of the JP for the hand ranked top, 50% of the JP for the hand ranked second, and 10% of the JP for the hand other than the above-mentioned hands is offered when the player wins in the special game. However, in the present invention, the correspondence between the amount of JP to be offered and the hand is not limited thereto. Further, in the present invention, all the currency value cumulatively accumulated as the JP may be offered regardless of the hand, when the player wins the special game.

In the present embodiment, the case has been described where the corresponding relation between the player's hand and the payout (JP) to be offered in the special game is previously set. However, in the present invention, the corresponding relation between the player's hand and the payout to be offered may be changed every time the special game is played.

Further, while, in the present embodiment, there will be described a case where a credit as same the value as the side BET is paid out in the event of a tie, no payout may be offered in the event of a tie. After the execution of the processing in step S119, the present main-control-portion-side processing ends.

Next, the hand-ranking table according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating exemplary hand-ranking tables.

In each of the hand-ranking tables, ten hands in Pai-Gow poker are corresponded to ranking of their strength. For example, a hand-ranking table A is a hand-ranking table corresponding to the basic rule in the present embodiment, in which the hand strength ranking from highest is: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and No Pair. Further, the hand strength ranking in the hand-ranking table B is in reverse order to the hand strength ranking in the hand-ranking table A.

In the present embodiment, in the basic game, the hand-ranking table A (hand-ranking table corresponding to the basic rule) is set as a reference target. Further, in the special game, a single hand-ranking table is determined out of hand-ranking tables other than the hand-ranking table A, to be a reference target, by using random numbers.

It should be noted that, in the present invention, the method for determining the hand-ranking table in the special game is not limited to the example using random numbers. For example, the hand-ranking table may be determined in a predetermined order, such as a hand-ranking table B, a hand-ranking table C, a hand-ranking table D, and so forth.

Next, there will be described the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external structure of a gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the gaming machine 1 is basically comprised of a main monitor 2 and five stations 3 (stations 3 a to 3 e). Further, while, in the present embodiment, there will be described a case where the gaming machine 1 comprises a plurality of (five) stations 3, the number of stations included in a gaming machine may be one, in the present invention.

At the center portion of the main monitor 2, there is provided a front display 21 for displaying images indicating a dealer, cards and an amount of JP. Further, on the upper side of the main monitor 2, there are provided a plurality of speakers 22 for outputting music and an effect sound along with the progression of a game executed in the gaming machine 1 and a plurality of LEDs 23 which are lighted during various types of effects.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external structure of a station included in the gaming machine illustrated in FIG. 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, at the center of the upper surface of the station 3, there is provided a liquid crystal display 10 for displaying an image relating to an operation (see FIG. 6) and the like as will be described later. Further, on the upper surface of the liquid crystal display 10, there is provided a touch panel 11 for inputting an operation for a BET and the like. The touch panel 11 corresponds to a normal BET switch and a side BET switch according to the present invention.

In front of the liquid crystal display 10, there are provided a plurality of operation buttons 12 for performing a payout operation, and a coin insertion slot 13 for inserting a coin or a medal thereto.

At the right end of the upper portion of the front surface of the station 3, there is provided a bill insertion slot 14 for inserting a bill thereto. Below the bill insertion slot 14, there is provided a coin payout exit 15 for paying out the number of coins or medals corresponding to the accumulated credit to the player, when a payout operation is performed.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an exemplary image which is displayed to a front display included in a gaming machine.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, at an upper portion of the front display 21, there is provided a JP display portion 33 for displaying an amount of JP. Further, the front display 21 displays a dealer image 30 indicating a dealer (banker), a table image 31 indicating a table, and card images 32 indicating seven banker's cards. The card images 32 are displayed facing down, when cards are dealt to the dealer. When the high hand and the low hand are determined, the card images 32 are displayed facing up. The five cards on the observer's left side in FIG. 5 indicate the high hand, while the two cards on the right side indicate the low hand.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an exemplary image which is displayed to a liquid crystal display included in a station.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, at an upper portion of the liquid crystal display 10, there are provided a high-hand display portion 80 for displaying the player's high hand and a low-hand display portion 81 for displaying the player's low hand. To the high-hand display portion 80 and the low-hand display portion 81, there are displayed card images 82 indicating the cards of the high hand and card images 82 indicating the cards of the low hand, respectively, with their faces up. Under the high-hand display portion 80, there is provided a dealt-card display portion 83. To the seven dotted boxes in the dealt-card display portion 83, card images indicating the seven player's cards dealt to the player are displayed with their faces up. On the right side of the dealt-card display portion 83, there are provided a high-hand determination button 84 and a low-hand determination button 85 for determining the cards constituting the high hand and the low hand. The player can determine a high hand by selecting cards that he or she desires to have in his or her high hand out of the cards displayed to the dealt-card display portion 83 through the touch panel 11 and operating the high-hand determination button 84 through the touch panel 11. The cards determined to be included in the high hand are displayed to the high-hand display portion 80. Similarly, the player can determine a low hand by selecting cards that he or she desires to have in his or her low hand out of the cards displayed to the dealt-card display portion 83 through the touch panel 11 and operating the low-hand determination button 85 through the touch panel 11.

Under the dealt-card display portion 83, there is provided a BET button display portion 86. To the BET button display portion 86, there are displayed BET buttons 87 for inputting the number of BETs. The player can input the number of normal BETs and the number of side BETs by operating the BET buttons 87 through the touch panel 11.

At the right side of the BET button display portion 86, there is provided a number-of-normal-BETs display portion 88 for displaying the number of coins being betted as a normal BET. FIG. 6 illustrates that 28 coins are betted. Further, in order to input a BET of 28 coins, the player can operate a “10” BET button 87 twice, “5” BET button 87 once and a “1” BET button 87 three times.

At the right side of the number-of-normal-BETs display portion 88, there is provided a number-of-side-BETs display portion 89 for displaying the number of coins betted as a side BET. FIG. 6 illustrates that 10 coins are betted.

At the right side of the number-of-side-BETs display portion 89, there is provided the number-of-credits display portion 90. FIG. 6 illustrates that 500 coins are being credited.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an exemplary image which is displayed to a liquid crystal display when a station receives from the main control portion the hand-ranking information indicative of hand strength ranking which is determined as the reference target. As shown in FIG. 7, when the station 3 receives the hand-ranking information from the main control portion 40, a hand-ranking table image 91 based on the received hand-ranking information is displayed to the lower side with respect to the dealt-card display portion 83 in the liquid crystal display 10.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the internal structure of the gaming machine illustrated in FIG. 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the main control portion 40 provided in the gaming machine 1 comprises a microcomputer 45 as the core, which basically includes a CPU 41, a RAM 42, a ROM 43, a timer 95, and a bus 44 for transferring data mutually among these devices. The main control portion 40 corresponds to a controller according to the present invention.

The ROM 43 stores various types of programs for conducting processing necessary for controlling the gaming machine 1, a data table and the like. The data table includes the hand-ranking tables to be a reference target in determination of strength of a hand in the basic game and the special game. It is to be noted that, although a case where the hand-ranking table is previously stored in the ROM 43 is described in the present embodiment, such a configuration may be made in the present invention that the hand-ranking table is read from an external storage medium (e.g. non-volatile memory or a control device communicable via a network). Further, the RAM 42 is a memory for temporarily storing various types of data calculated in the CPU 41. Furthermore, the RAM 42 cumulatively stores credit data corresponding to a predetermined ratio (50% in the present embodiment) of a side-BET credit. Further, the timer 95 conducts time measurement.

Further, the CPU 41 is connected to an image processing circuit 47, a sound circuit 48, an LED driving circuit 49 and a communication interface 50 through an I/O interface 46.

The front display 21 included in the main monitor 2 is connected to the image processing circuit 47. The plurality of speakers 22 included in the main monitor 2 are connected to the sound circuit 48. The LEDs 23 included in the main monitor 2 are connected to the LED driving circuit 49. The five stations 3 are connected to the communication interface 50.

The CPU 41 progresses a game (a basic game and a special game) which is executed in the gaming machine 1, based on game programs (including a game program for a basic game and a program for a special game) stored in the ROM 43 and various types of signals received from the stations 3. Further, the CPU 41 displays an image to the front display 21, outputs sound from the plurality of speakers 22 and lights the LEDs 23, based on the above-mentioned game programs. Further, the CPU 41 transmits various types of signals to the respective stations 3, based on the above-mentioned game programs.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the internal structure of a station included in the gaming machine illustrated in FIG. 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the station 3 includes, as the core, a microcomputer 55 which is basically comprised of a CPU 51, a RAM 52, a ROM 53, and a bus 54 for transferring data mutually among these devices.

The ROM 53 stores various types of programs for conducting processing necessary for controlling the station 3, data tables and the like. Further, the RAM 52 temporarily stores the number of credits currently accumulated in the station 3 and various types of data calculated in the CPU 51.

Further, the CPU 51 is connected to a liquid crystal panel driving circuit 57, a touch panel driving circuit 58, a hopper driving circuit 59, a payout completion signal circuit 60, an inserted-coin detecting signal circuit 67, a bill detecting signal circuit 64, an operation signal circuit 66 and a communication interface 61, through an I/O interface 56.

A liquid crystal display 10 is connected to the liquid crystal panel driving circuit 57. A touch panel 11 is connected to the touch panel driving circuit 58. A hopper 62 is connected to the hopper driving circuit 59. A coin detecting portion 63 is connected to the payout completion signal circuit 60. An inserted-coin detecting portion 68 is connected to the inserted-coin detecting signal circuit 67. A bill detecting portion 65 is connected to the bill detecting signal circuit 64. An operation button 12 is connected to the operation signal circuit 66.

The hopper 62 is provided inside the station 3 and pays out a coin through the coin payout exit 15 based on a control signal outputted from the CPU 51.

The coin detecting portion 63 is provided inside the coin payout exit 15 and transmits a signal to the CPU 51 on detecting a predetermined number of coins being paid out through the coin payout exit 15.

The inserted-coin detecting portion 68, on detecting a coin being inserted from the coin insertion slot 13, detects the value of the coin and transmits a detecting signal indicative of the detected value to the CPU 51. The detected value of the coin is counted regarding a predetermined value defined as 1 credit and is stored in the RAM 52.

The bill detecting portion 65, on accepting a bill, detects the value of the bill and transmits a detecting signal indicative of the detected value to the CPU 51. The detected value of the bill is counted regarding a predetermined value defined as 1 credit and is stored in the RAM 52.

The operation button 12 is a button for performing payout operations, when payout of the coin is determined.

Next, there will be described processing conducted in the main control portion 40 and the station 3. The processing in the main control portion 40 has been already described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. Therefore, only the processing conducted in the station 3 will be described.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are flow charts illustrating the station-side processing which is conducted in a station.

First, in step S201 in FIG. 10A, the CPU 51 included in the station 3 accepts an input of a normal BET and a side BET, on receiving a signal from the touch panel 11, indicative of the detection of a contact, or a signal from the inserted-coin detecting portion 68, indicative of the detection of the coin insertion. This enables the player to input a normal BET and a side BET through the tough panel 11 included in the station 3.

Next, in step S202, the CPU 51 transmits BET information on the inputted BET to the main control portion 40. The main control portion 40, on receiving the BET information, cumulatively stores 50% of the side-BET credit as a JP in the RAM 42 (see step S102 in FIG. 1A).

Next, in step S203, the CPU 51 receives to-be-dealt-cards information indicative of the cards to be dealt to the player, from the main control portion 40.

Next, in step S204, the CPU 51 displays card images indicative of the seven player's cards to the dealt-card display portion 83 in the liquid crystal display 10, based on the to-be-dealt-cards information received in step S203.

Next, in step S205, the CPU 51 accepts inputs of selections of a high hand and a low hand. This enables the player to determine a high hand and a low hand in the dealt cards by operating the high-hand determination button 84 and the low-hand determination button 85 through the touch panel 11.

Next, in step S206, the CPU 51 transmits selection information based on the selection of the high hand and the low hand to the main control portion 40. The main control portion 40, on receiving the selection information, conducts processing for determining a high hand and a low hand of the banker's cards and determining the winning or losing of the game (see step S108 in FIG. 1A).

Next, in step S207, the CPU 51 receives winning/losing information from the main control portion 40.

Subsequently, the CPU 51 displays an image indicating any one of “you win”, “you lose” and “tie” to the dealt-card display portion 83 in the liquid crystal display 10, for a predetermined time period (10 seconds, in the present embodiment), based on the received winning/losing information.

Next, in step S208, the CPU 51 receives normal BET payout information from the main control portion 40. On receiving the normal BET payout information, the CPU 51 stores, in the RAM 52, credit data based on the normal BET payout information.

Next, in step S209, the CPU 51 pays out a credit based on the normal BET payout information received in step S208. The processing for paying out a credit based on the normal BET payout information from the main control portion 40 corresponds to processing for offering a payout based on an inputted normal BET and the result of a basic game, in the present invention.

Next, in step S210 in FIG. 10B, the CPU 51 determines whether or not the basic game has resulted in winning of the player. When the CPU 51 determines that the basic game has resulted in winning of the player, the present subroutine ends.

On the other hand, when determining that the basic game has not resulted in winning of the player, i.e., the basic game has resulted in a tie or losing of the player, the CPU 51 determines, in step S211, whether or not the side BET has been inputted during the BET reception in step S201. When the CPU 51 determines that a side BET is not inputted, the present subroutine ends.

On the other hand, when determining that the side BET is inputted, the CPU 51 transmits, in step S212, a side BET signal indicating that the basic game has resulted in a tie or losing of the player and that the side BET is placed, to the main control portion 40.

Next, in step S213, the CPU 51 receives hand-ranking information indicative of hand strength ranking which is determined to be the reference target, from the main control portion 40.

Next, in step S214, the CPU 51 displays to the liquid crystal display 10 an image based on the hand-ranking information received in step S213 (see FIG. 7).

Next, in step S215, the CPU 51 rearranges cards. More specifically, the CPU 51 displays the card images displayed to the high-hand display portion 80 and the low-hand display portion 81 in the liquid crystal display 10, to the dealt-card display portion 83, again. Namely, the CPU 51 restores the player's cards divided into the high hand and the low hand to a set of seven cards.

Next, in step S216, the CPU 51 accepts inputs to select the high hand and the low hand. The processing in step S216 enables the player to select the high hand and the low hand through the touch panel 11.

Next, in step S217, the CPU 51 transmits selection information to the main control portion 40. The main control portion 40, on receiving the selection information, conducts processing for re-determining the high hand and the low hand of the banker's cards and determining winning or losing of the game (see steps S115 to S117 in FIG. 1B).

Next, in step S218, the CPU 51 receives winning/losing information from the main control portion 40. Then, the CPU 51 displays, to the dealt-card display portion 83 in the liquid crystal display 10, an image describing any one of “you win”, “you lose” and “tie” for a predetermined time period (10 seconds, in the present embodiment), based on the received winning/losing information.

Next, in step S219, the CPU 51 receives JP payout information from the main control portion 40. On receiving the JP payout information, the CPU 51 stores, in the RAM 52, credit data based on the JP payout information.

Next, in step S220, the CPU 51 pays out a credit based on the JP payout information received in step S219.

The processing for paying out a credit based on the JP payout information from the main control portion 40 corresponds to processing for offering a jackpot based on the inputted side BET and the result of the special game when it is determined that the special game has resulted in winning of the player, in the present invention.

After the execution of the processing in step S220, the present subroutine ends.

As described above, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment comprises: the touch panel 11 (the normal BET switch and the side BET switch) for inputting a normal BET and a side BET different from the normal BET; and the main control portion 40 (controller). The main control portion is programmed to conduct the following processing of: (a) accepting the normal BET from the touch panel 11; (b) accepting the side BET from the touch panel 11; (c) cumulatively accumulating as a jackpot a predetermined ratio of a side-BET currency value; (d) executing a basic game following a basic rule in which winning or losing of the game is determined based on strength of the hands; (e) offering a payout based on the inputted normal BET and a result of the basic game, when it is determined that the basic game results in winning of a player; (f) executing a special game following a special rule which is different from the basic rule in strength of hands when it is determined that the basic game results in a tie or losing of the player and that the side BET is placed in the processing (b); and (g) offering a jackpot based on the inputted side BET and a result of the special game, when it is determined that the special game results in winning of the player.

While, in the present embodiment, there has been described a case where the card game is played using the gaming machine 1, the card game may be played without using a gaming machine (for example, a banker and a player play a game around an actual table) in the present invention. In this case, there may be employed a playing method of a card game comprising the following steps of: (a) placing a normal BET; (b) placing a side BET different from the normal BET; (c) cumulatively accumulating as a jackpot a predetermined ratio of a side-BET currency value; (d) executing a basic game following a basic rule in which winning or losing of the game is determined based on strength of hands or on height of a total of points allocated to respective cards; (e) offering a payout based on the normal BET and a result of the basic game, when it is determined that the basic game results in winning of a player; (f) executing a special game following a special rule which is different from the basic rule in strength of hands or in points allocated to the respective cards, when it is determined that the basic game results in a tie or losing of the player and that the side BET is placed in the step (b); and (g) offering a jackpot based on the side BET and a result of the special game, when it is determined that the special game results in winning of the player.

In the present embodiment, the gaming machine 1 is configured so as to change the ranking of hand strength by selecting a single hand-ranking table out of a plurality of hand-ranking tables. However, in the present invention, the method for changing the ranking of hand strength is not limited to this example. For example, ranking of each hand may be determined by acquiring a random number.

Further, in the present invention, the ranking of hand strength may be determined according to the input of operations by the player. Examples of such a configuration may include a configuration where a plurality of cards for determining the corresponding relation between hands and the ranking of their strength are displayed to a liquid crystal display, and based on the cards selected by the player, the corresponding relation between the hands and the ranking of their strengths is determined.

Further, in the present embodiment, seven cards dealt in the basic game are re-divided into five cards and two cards to play the special game. However, in the present invention, cards may be re-dealt in the special game to play a game.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case is described where a dealer also serves as a banker. However, in the present invention, one player may serve as a banker when a plurality of players join the game.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case of using playing cards is described. However, in the present invention, the cards are not limited to the playing cards, and for example, tarot cards may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case of using Pai-Gow poker as the basic game is described. However, in the present invention, the basic game is not limited to Pai-Gow poker, and may be any game so long as winning or losing is determined based on strength of hands or on height of a total of points allocated to respective cards, such as Black Jack or Poker.

For example, when Black Jack is played as the basic game, points allocated to the respective cards are changed in the special game to points different from the points corresponding to the basic rule (e.g. when ten points each are allocated to cards “J” to “K” in the basic game, the points allocated to each of the cards “J” to “K” are changed to five in the special game) to play a game. When such a configuration is adopted, points allocated to the respective cards in the special game may be changed at random or according to a predetermined rule.

Further, in the present embodiment, there have been described cases where 50% of side-BET credits are cumulatively accumulated as jackpot. However, in the present invention, the ratio (predetermined ratio) of a cumulatively accumulating currency value to the side-BET currency value is not limited thereto, and may be set as appropriate.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, credit data corresponding to 50% of a side-BET credit is cumulatively stored in the RAM 42 included in the main control portion 40. However, in the present invention, credit data corresponding to a predetermined ratio of the side-BET credit may be cumulatively stored in a RAM included in each station.

Also, in the present embodiment, the case is described where a side-BET credit is cumulatively accumulated and a payout in a special game is offered from the cumulatively accumulated credits. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, a payout in the special game may be offered from a currency value of the banker without accumulating a side-BET currency value.

While, in the present embodiment, there have been described cases where players play Pai-Gow poker by viewing the main monitor 2 and the liquid crystal displays 10 included in the stations, the gaming machine according to the present invention is only required to include either a main monitor or liquid crystal displays (displays included in the stations). In the case of this structure, the dealer's cards (the banker's cards) and the player's cards may be displayed together to the main monitor or the displays in the stations.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to embodiments thereof, these embodiments merely illustrate concrete examples, not restrict the present invention. The concrete structures of respective means and the like can be designed and changed as required. Furthermore, there have been merely described most preferable effects of the present invention, as the effects of the present invention, in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention.

Further, in the aforementioned detailed description, characteristic portions have been mainly described, for ease of understanding the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the aforementioned detailed description, but can be also applied to other embodiments over a wider range of applications. Further, the terms and phrases used in the present specification have been used for clearly describing the present invention, not for limiting the interpretation of the present invention. Further, those skilled in the art will easily conceive other structures, systems, methods and the like which are included in the concept of the present invention, from the concept of the present invention described in the present specification. Accordingly, the description of the claims is intended to include equivalent structures that fall within the technical scope of the invention. Further, the abstract aims at enabling engineers and the like who belong to the present technical field but are not familiar with the patent office and public institutions, the patent, law terms and technical terms to immediately understand the technical content and the essence of the present application through brief studies. Accordingly, the abstract is not intended to restrict the scope of the invention which should be evaluated from the description of the claims. It is desirable that literatures and the like which have been already disclosed are sufficiently studied and understood, in order to sufficiently understand the objects of the present invention and the specific effects of the present invention.

In the aforementioned detailed description, there have been described processes to be executed by computers. The aforementioned description and expressions have been described for the sake of enabling those skilled in the art to understand the present invention most effectively. In the present specification, each step for deriving a single result should be understood to be self-consistent processing. Further, each step includes transmission, reception, recording and the like of electric or magnetic signals. Although, in the processing at each step, such signals have been expressed as bits, values, symbols, characters, terms, numerical characters and the like, it should be noticed that they have been merely used for convenience of description. Further, although the processing at each step was described using expressions common to human behaviors in some cases, the processes described in the present specification are to be executed by various types of devices, in principle. Further, other structures required for conducting each step will be apparent from the aforementioned description. 

1. A playing method of a card game comprising the steps of: (a) placing a side BET different from a normal BET; (b) executing a basic game following a basic rule in which winning or losing of the game is determined based on strength of hands or on height of a total of points allocated to respective cards; and (c) executing a special game following a special rule which is different from said basic rule in strength of hands or in points allocated to the respective cards, when it is determined that said basic game results in a tie or losing of a player and that the side BET is placed in said step (a).
 2. A playing method of a card game comprising the steps of: (a) placing a normal BET; (b) placing a side BET different from said normal BET; (c) executing a basic game following a basic rule in which winning or losing of the game is determined based on strength of hands or on height of a total of points allocated to respective cards; (d) offering a payout based on said normal BET and a result of said basic game, when it is determined that said basic game results in winning of a player; (e) executing a special game following a special rule which is different from said basic rule in strength of hands or in points allocated to the respective cards, when it is determined that said basic game results in a tie or losing of the player and that the side BET is placed in said step (b); and (f) offering a payout based on said side BET and a result of said special game, when it is determined that said special game results in winning of the player.
 3. A playing method of a card game comprising the steps of: (a) placing a normal BET; (b) placing a side BET different from said normal BET; (c) cumulatively accumulating as a jackpot a predetermined ratio of a side-BET currency value; (d) executing a basic game following a basic rule in which winning or losing of the game is determined based on strength of hands or on height of a total of points allocated to respective cards; (e) offering a payout based on said normal BET and a result of said basic game, when it is determined that said basic game results in winning of a player; (f) executing a special game following a special rule which is different from said basic rule in strength of hands or in points allocated to the respective cards, when it is determined that said basic game results in a tie or losing of the player and that the side BET is placed in said step (b); and (g) offering a jackpot based on said side BET and a result of said special game, when it is determined that said special game results in winning of the player.
 4. A gaming machine comprising: a side BET switch for inputting a side BET which is different from a normal BET; and a controller, said controller programmed so as to execute the following processing of: (a) accepting the side BET from said side BET switch; (b) executing a basic game following a basic rule in which winning or losing of the game is determined based on strength of hands or on height of a total of points allocated to respective cards; and (c) executing a special game following a special rule which is different from said basic rule in strength of hands or in points allocated to the respective cards, when it is determined that said basic game results in a tie or losing of a player and that the side BET is placed in said processing (a).
 5. A gaming machine comprising: a normal BET switch for inputting a normal BET; a side BET switch for inputting a side BET which is different from said normal BET; and a controller, said controller programmed so as to execute the following processing of: (a) accepting the normal BET from said normal BET switch; (b) accepting the side BET from said side BET switch; (c) executing a basic game following a basic rule in which winning or losing of the game is determined based on strength of hands or on height of a total of points allocated to respective cards; (d) offering a payout based on the inputted normal BET and a result of said basic game, when it is determined that said basic game results in winning of a player; (e) executing a special game following a special rule which is different from said basic rule in strength of hands or in points allocated to the respective cards, when it is determined that said basic game results in a tie or losing of the player and that the side BET is placed in said processing (b); and (f) offering a payout based on the inputted side BET and a result of said special game, when it is determined that said special game results in winning of the player.
 6. A gaming machine comprising: a normal BET switch for inputting a normal BET; a side BET switch for inputting a side BET which is different from said normal BET; and a controller, said controller programmed so as to execute the following processing: (a) accepting the normal BET from said normal BET switch; (b) accepting the side BET from said side BET switch; (c) cumulatively accumulating as a jackpot a predetermined ratio of a side-BET currency value; (d) executing a basic game following a basic rule in which winning or losing of the game is determined based on strength of hands or on height of a total of points allocated to respective cards; (e) offering a payout based on the inputted normal BET and a result of said basic game, when it is determined that said basic game results in winning of a player; (f) executing a special game following a special rule which is different from said basic rule in strength of hands or in points allocated to the respective cards, when it is determined that said basic game results in a tie or losing of the player and that the side BET is placed in said processing (b); and (g) offering a jackpot based on the inputted side BET and a result of said special game, when it is determined that said special game results in winning of the player. 